Bluewater Health Sarnia site. (BlackburnNews.com file photo by Melanie Irwin)Bluewater Health Sarnia site. (BlackburnNews.com file photo by Melanie Irwin)
Sarnia

ONA Says Bluewater Health Cutting 39 Nurses

There's discrepancy between Bluewater Health and the Ontario Nurses Association on the impact of job cuts announced last week.

The hospital says 33 net positions will be eliminated across all departments to address a projected deficit of nearly $6-million in the fiscal year starting April 1.

ONA Provincial Vice President Vicki McKenna says union leaders and staff at Bluewater Health were told the actual number of registered nursing jobs being cut is 39.

McKenna says the elimination of 39 positions equates to 80,000 hours of nursing care and patients will suffer as a result.

[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Vicki-McKenna-1-edit.mp3"][/audio]

She urges residents to voice their displeasure to the local MPP and Ontario's Health Minister.

Bluewater Health says it hopes to keep involuntary job loss to a minimum through retirements.

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